French Gymnast Samir Ait Said Breaks His Leg On Vault

Samir Ait Said broke his leg while trying to stick a landing on the vault.

A French gymnast Samir Ait Said has suffered what must surely rank among the most horrific injuries of the Olympics, breaking his leg while attempting to land a vault on the first day of competition.

Said was taking part in the men's qualification event in the Rio Olympic Arena, attempting a triple backflip. The 26-year-old didsn’t quite rotate far enough to stick the landing and suddenly his bones were nearly sticking out of his skin.

As Said looks down to view the damage, his reaction is incredible for a man whose lower half of his leg is literally being held together by skin and tendon only.

Television cameras cut away quickly, as the seriousness of the injury became apparent. The sound of the break could be heard in live coverage of the event.